Variety of calla lily plant named &#39;Helvetia&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Helvetia’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a white-colored spathe that produces 4-20 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 40 cm in height, and the leaves are dark green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/125,226, having a filing date of Jan. 15, 2015,and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘HELVETIA’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Helvetia’.

‘Helvetia’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to asZ030636 (female parent, unpatented) with Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘SwanLake’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,664). ‘Helvetia’ was selectedin 2008 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Helvetia’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in September of 2010 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouseconditions, which approximate those generally used in horticulturalpractice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color termsof ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Helvetia’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. White-colored spathe with no pink blush color present;

2. Green leaves with a few linear white spots; and

3. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Helvetia’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selection Z030636 and Zantedeschiasprengeri ‘Swan Lake’.

TABLE 1 ‘Helvetia’ Similarities Differences Z030636 Spathe color Absenceof pink blush Spathe shape color in spathe Plant height ‘Swan Lake’Absence of pink blush Spathe shape color in spathe Number ofinflorescences Spathe color Plant height

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety at the early stageof flowering; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety at the later stageof flowering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   The plant:-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—7-38 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—12-40 cm.        -   Diameter.—20-50 cm.-   Form: Erect.-   Number of inflorescences per tuber:    -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—4-8 inflorescences.        -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—7-15 inflorescences.        -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—10-20 inflorescences.-   Branches:    -   -   Character.—Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 18,833).        -   Color.—Between Green Group RHS 137A and Brown Group RHS            200A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Width: 2-8 cm. Length: 7-20 cm.        -   Number per plant.—20-40.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 139A to 139B. Lower            surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137B.        -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS 139A to            139B.        -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 143A            to 143B.        -   Surface quality.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Length: 5-20 cm. Colour: The base is White Group            RHS 155A, and the upper part is Green Group RHS 143A to            143B.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White.        -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.-   The inflorescence and seeds:-   Spathe:    -   -   Size.—Length (measured from opening to tip): 4-7 cm. Width:            3-4.5 cm. Height: 4-10 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between White Group RHS 155A            and 155D. Lower surface: Varies between Yellow-Green Group            RHS 144B and 144D.        -   Vein color.—Between White Group RHS 155A and 155D.        -   Shape.—Cupped.-   Spadix:    -   -   Size.—Length: 25-45 mm. Diameter: 2-10 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 16A and 16C.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Size.—Length: 10-30 cm. Diameter: 5-11 mm.        -   Color.—The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A            and 144B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.        -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.            Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282). Colour: Between White Group            RHS 155A and 155B.        -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between            Yellow-Orange Group RHS 16A and 16C.        -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group            RHS 155A and 155B.        -   Pistils.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1            mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group            RHS 4B and 4D.        -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:            Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow-Green            Group RHS 145A and 145D, bottom color is from White Group            RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.        -   Width.—3-6 mm.        -   Colour.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.        -   Amount.—Between 1-60.-   General:-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to    date.-   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date.-   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance.-   Hardiness: Not hardy.-   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in    February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in    The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July.-   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant.-   Fragrance: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named‘Helvetia’ as herein described and illustrated.